OPT AI Architect Jobs
AI Architect jobs on OPT require employers to support STEM OPT extension eligibility, since the role falls under CIP code 11.0401. Most positions involve designing large-scale AI systems, so expect technical interviews focused on model architecture, MLOps pipelines, and production deployment. Cap-gap protection matters if you're targeting H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsThe application window is expected to close on: 11/12/2026
This is a hybrid role, requiring a minimum of two days per week at Cisco’s San Jose, CA or RTP, NC office, depending on your location.
Meet the Team
As an AI Business Architect in COEC, you will shape how AI transforms Cisco's Commerce Operations by translating business needs into clear, actionable AI solution designs. You will lead the ideation, requirements definition, and readiness assessment for AI initiatives — evaluating data maturity, API readiness, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) compatibility to ensure solutions are built on a solid foundation.
Your Impact
Working closely with business partners, multi-functional teams, and AI engineering leads, you will guide solutions from initial discovery through production launch and ongoing adoption. Your work will reduce unnecessary complexity, accelerate delivery, and ensure AI investments translate into measurable business outcomes.
- Lead discovery sessions, manage communication across multi-functional teams, and align solutions from ideation through production launch and ongoing adoption.
- Create detailed technical specifications for AI projects, translating business objectives into functional requirements.
- Evaluate data maturity, API readiness, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) compatibility to determine whether existing systems are prepared for AI integration.
- Assess the viability of AI solutions against business goals through rigorous fitment analysis, avoiding unnecessary complexity.
- Map AS-IS and TO-BE Quote-to-Cash (Q2C), commerce, and order-processing workflows for software, hardware, and services; identify gaps and opportunities, and design process flows.
- Independently extract and analyze data from Oracle, Snowflake, and multiple reporting sources; perform data modeling to inform solution recommendations and next steps.
- Prepare and present clear, concise status updates and strategic roadmaps to leadership, covering progress, risks, and ROI.
- Partner closely with AI engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle to ensure technical implementation stays true to the architectural vision.
- Understand REST/API fundamentals and integration patterns across multiple applications.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors' degree with 6+ years of experience in solution architecture, enterprise systems design, or AI-enabled business process consulting.
- Applied experience building requirements and assessing data quality/readiness for AI models.
- Experience in API management and a practical understanding of Model Context Protocol (MCP).
- Experience leading and managing multi-functional projects in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience working with UI, backend systems, and API integrations, using a programming language like Python.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong business acumen with the ability to connect AI capabilities to tangible business outcomes.
- Experience with Cisco Commerce systems and processes.
- In-depth knowledge of Quote-to-Cash (Q2C) lifecycles, workflows, and associated data structures.
- Experience in enterprise data strategy and automation frameworks.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for executive partners.
- Willingness to adopt new AI skills, work in unfamiliar areas, and maintain a learn-and-grow attitude.
Why Cisco?
At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.
Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.
We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.
Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:
The starting salary range posted for this position is $148,500.00 to $193,300.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.
Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.
U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:
- 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
- Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
- Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
- 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
- Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
- Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.
Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:
- .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;
- 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;
- 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and
- Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.
For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.
The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:
New York City Metro Area:
$148,500.00 - $234,600.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$135,400.00 - $215,200.00
- For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.
Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.
The application window is expected to close on: 11/12/2026
This is a hybrid role, requiring a minimum of two days per week at Cisco’s San Jose, CA or RTP, NC office, depending on your location.
Meet the Team
As an AI Business Architect in COEC, you will shape how AI transforms Cisco's Commerce Operations by translating business needs into clear, actionable AI solution designs. You will lead the ideation, requirements definition, and readiness assessment for AI initiatives — evaluating data maturity, API readiness, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) compatibility to ensure solutions are built on a solid foundation.
Your Impact
Working closely with business partners, multi-functional teams, and AI engineering leads, you will guide solutions from initial discovery through production launch and ongoing adoption. Your work will reduce unnecessary complexity, accelerate delivery, and ensure AI investments translate into measurable business outcomes.
- Lead discovery sessions, manage communication across multi-functional teams, and align solutions from ideation through production launch and ongoing adoption.
- Create detailed technical specifications for AI projects, translating business objectives into functional requirements.
- Evaluate data maturity, API readiness, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) compatibility to determine whether existing systems are prepared for AI integration.
- Assess the viability of AI solutions against business goals through rigorous fitment analysis, avoiding unnecessary complexity.
- Map AS-IS and TO-BE Quote-to-Cash (Q2C), commerce, and order-processing workflows for software, hardware, and services; identify gaps and opportunities, and design process flows.
- Independently extract and analyze data from Oracle, Snowflake, and multiple reporting sources; perform data modeling to inform solution recommendations and next steps.
- Prepare and present clear, concise status updates and strategic roadmaps to leadership, covering progress, risks, and ROI.
- Partner closely with AI engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle to ensure technical implementation stays true to the architectural vision.
- Understand REST/API fundamentals and integration patterns across multiple applications.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors' degree with 6+ years of experience in solution architecture, enterprise systems design, or AI-enabled business process consulting.
- Applied experience building requirements and assessing data quality/readiness for AI models.
- Experience in API management and a practical understanding of Model Context Protocol (MCP).
- Experience leading and managing multi-functional projects in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience working with UI, backend systems, and API integrations, using a programming language like Python.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong business acumen with the ability to connect AI capabilities to tangible business outcomes.
- Experience with Cisco Commerce systems and processes.
- In-depth knowledge of Quote-to-Cash (Q2C) lifecycles, workflows, and associated data structures.
- Experience in enterprise data strategy and automation frameworks.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for executive partners.
- Willingness to adopt new AI skills, work in unfamiliar areas, and maintain a learn-and-grow attitude.
Why Cisco?
At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.
Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.
We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.
Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:
The starting salary range posted for this position is $148,500.00 to $193,300.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.
Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.
U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:
- 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
- Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
- Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
- 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
- Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
- Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.
Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:
- .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;
- 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;
- 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and
- Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.
For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.
The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:
New York City Metro Area:
$148,500.00 - $234,600.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$135,400.00 - $215,200.00
- For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.
Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.
See all 252+ OPT AI Architect Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in AI Architect
Confirm STEM OPT eligibility before applying
AI Architect roles qualify under computer science and engineering CIP codes, making you eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Verify your degree field appears on the official STEM designated degree program list before submitting applications.
Target employers with active E-Verify enrollment
STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Ask recruiters directly during early screening calls. Many large tech firms and AI-native companies already participate, but mid-size employers often need a heads-up before onboarding.
Time your job search against OPT expiration
Apply at least 90 days before your OPT end date. AI Architect hiring cycles run long due to technical rounds and committee approvals. Starting early gives you room to complete the full process without losing authorized work status mid-interview.
Frame your immigration status proactively with employers
Lead with your STEM OPT timeline and H-1B visa cap-gap protection in recruiter conversations. Employers unfamiliar with OPT often assume higher complexity. A brief, confident explanation of your authorized period removes hesitation before it becomes a blocker.
Prioritize roles with defined H-1B sponsorship pipelines
Ask hiring managers directly whether the company has sponsored H-1B visas in the past two years. Firms with established immigration counsel and recurring sponsorship history move significantly faster than those encountering the process for the first time.
Document your work product throughout OPT for Form I-983
STEM OPT requires a training plan submitted on Form I-983, updated with your employer. As an AI Architect, log specific projects, model deployments, and architectural decisions. Detailed documentation protects your extension status if USCIS issues a request for evidence.
AI Architect OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an AI Architect on OPT without H-1B sponsorship right away?
Yes. Your OPT work authorization is independent of H-1B sponsorship. You can begin working as an AI Architect immediately after your OPT start date, provided the role relates to your degree field. The STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months of total authorized work time, during which employers can initiate H-1B sponsorship.
Does an AI Architect role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
AI Architect positions typically qualify under computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering degree programs, all of which appear on the STEM designated degree program list. Your eligibility depends on your specific degree's CIP code, not the job title alone. Confirm with your designated school official before applying for the extension on your SEVIS record.
How do I find AI Architect jobs where employers are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers willing to hire candidates on work authorization. Searching there surfaces AI Architect openings from companies already familiar with STEM OPT requirements, which significantly reduces time spent screening out roles where your status is a non-starter.
What happens to my OPT status if I'm between AI Architect jobs?
OPT permits up to 90 days of unemployment during the standard period and 150 days total if you receive a STEM extension. Days without a formal employment relationship count toward that limit. If an offer falls through or a contract ends, begin your next search immediately and notify your DSO to keep your SEVIS record current.
Do AI Architect contractors or consulting arrangements count as valid OPT employment?
Yes, consulting and contract arrangements can qualify, but the work must directly relate to your degree field and you must have a formal engagement with the company. Self-employment structures are generally not permitted on OPT. For STEM OPT extension, the employer must be E-Verify enrolled and sign Form I-983 as your training plan supervisor.